Marian VolkwynSouth Africa scooped floral gold at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London on Sunday, 19 May.
South African horticulturist and floral artist, Leon Kluge; and artist, Tristan Woudberg along with a group of volunteers earned the nation its 38th Gold medal at the world-renowned Chelsea Flower Show hosted by the Royal Horticultural Society on Sunday.
The award-winning display made South African history by winning in two categories: “Best New Design” and “Best in the Great Pavillion.”
Perfect scores from the RHS judges led to South Africa clinching gold.
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Described as one of the most outstanding exhibits in the history within the Great Pavillion, the display was inspired by the windswept slopes of the Cape mountains, says Kluge, who previously won South Africa two gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2018 and 2019.
The multi-award-winning floral artwork made use of 22 000 stems, arranged to form a mesmerising symphony of fynbos cut flowers, gently framed by earthy clay sculptures.
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Multiple flora from the Cape kingdom were presented in the display, from the region’s high-altitude fynbos to strandveld bulbs that brim along the coastlines, as well as rare hybrids and floral blooms that are not often seen, such as the Protea ‘Snow Leopard.’
Tristan Woudberg, the Franschhoek-based artist who worked on the display alongside Kluge, describes the cracked clay sculptures that frame the blooms as boundaries that represent the divide of the Cape kingdom’s biomes, each giving rise to unique flora.
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“The sculptures take on the role of mountain ranges, dividing and isolating the different biomes of the Cape which have given rise to our unique flora over time. The natural cracking effect provided by the clay is a reminder of the contrasting wet and dry seasons of the fynbos biome as well as the fragility of these ecosystems. The negative spaces in these sheets of rock act as windows, creating new vistas to explore as one moves around the exhibit.”
The win came after South Africa’s four-year hiatus from the Chelsea Flower Show. Support from a private sector-led team ensured South Africa’s flora was once again represented at the world’s premier flower show this year.
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Leon Kluge worked closely with Keith Kirsten, conservationist Michael Lutzeyer, and Marinda Nel to realise South Africa’s return. Contributions from the Rupert Nature Foundation as well as Grootbos Private nature reserve along with numerous contributions from the private sector provided the financial support needed to create the display in London.
Kluge took to Instagram with footage of the team celebrating South Africa’s floral gold in London, writing:
“So proud of my Team winning multiple awards at the Chelsea flower show 
,”
“To see this display behind me, and everyone admiring the work that we have done here, it’s so touching. It’s unique, it’s one of those things that are going to go down in history, and we were a part of it, it’s amazing,” said a member of team SA, beaming with pride.
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Feature image: @tristanwoudberg / (Instagram)
Originally written by Savanna Douglas and published in Woman&Home Magazine.
